Ecuador clearly came prepared for the World Cup, bringing their own cook, a spider-man mask for goal celebrations and what appears to be a small library for coach Luis Fernando Suarez.
Suarez, who said earlier in the tournament he had been reading about former US military chief and secretary of state Colin Powell, has used books as inspiration for his team, who face England in Stuttgart in the second round on Sunday.
The Colombian-born coach ordered his players to read a fable from his country called The Cow to avoid complacency ahead of their final Group A match against Germany.
Suarez's latest read is a philosophical self-help manual called From Ignorance to Wisdom by Argentine author Jorge Bucay, he said.
"I'm a great fan of reading...I also clear my mind by going jogging and enjoy playing tennis," he told reporters on Friday.
Suarez denied suggestions from Ecuadorean journalists that the pressure of the knockout stages was getting to him.
"I am criticised for being too serious but if I am not serious people ask why," he said.
"There's no need to worry. I have things to keep me occupied.
"If you want, go ahead please take photos of me," he said before pulling a funny face and raising his hands.
Ecuador brought their own cook to Germany to cater for the culinary needs of the squad while striker Ivan Kaviedes donned a spider-man mask after scoring in the 3-0 win over Costa Rica in the first round.
